Speed-changing mechanism.



E. B. KELLER. SPEED GHANGING MECHANISM. APPLIGATIOK IILBD NOV.14, 1905. nnnnwnn we. 24, 1909.

' v Patented D60. 14, 1909.

. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Y Wham ATTORNEY E. E. KELLER. SPEED GHANGING MECHANISM. APPLICATION IILED NOV. 14, 1905. RENEWED AUG. 24,-1909.

Patel lbed Dec. 14, 1909.

3 8HEETS8HBET 2.

INVENTOR- BY )WS. ATTORNEY E. E. KELLER. SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM.

' unmonron nun 1011.14.1905. nnnnwnnme. 24, 1909.

Patented Dec.- 14} ATTORNEY R 0 T N CL V N To all whom it may concern:

elevation and partially in section.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL E. KELLER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPEED-CHAN GIN G MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14., 1909.

Application filed November 14, 1905, Serial No. 287,311. Renewed August 24, 1909. Serial N 0. 514,452.

' Be it known that I, EMIL E. KELLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Speed- Changing Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to speed-changing mechanisms, and more particularly to means for automatically controlling and operating Such mechanisms.

The object of this invention is the production of automatic means for controlling a speed-changing mechanism, such that the torque or purchase of the mechanism is antomatically varied to comply with the various loads or resistances encountered. This and other objectsI attain in an apparatus embodying the features herein described and illustrated in the drawings accompanying this application, throughout the several views of which corresponding numerals indicate the same parts.

In Figure 1 a speed-changing device embodying my invention is shown partially in Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation along the line A A of Fig. 1. Fig. a is a partial section illustrating an automatically controlled clutch device forming a let-ail of my invention. Fig.5 is an end view of the clutch device illustrated in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an end view of a detail of the automatic clutch device. Fig. 7 illustrates an over-running device included in my invention. Fig. 8 illustrates a torque responsive device, a portion of which is broken away for convenience in illustration. Fig. 9 illustrates somewhat diagrammatically the frameot' a motor car equipped with an embodiment of 'my invention.

In the further description of my invention, I will consider it as applied to a motor car with no idea of limiting its application to such machines, or even to vehicles.

The automatic operation of the speedchanging mechanism as applied to a motor car is dependent on the difl'erent torsional resistances encountered by the driving mech anism ot the car, and as the torsional resistance is annost directly proportional to the road resistance encountered by the car, and as it is practically independent of the speed of the car, a torsionally operated speedchanging device will insure an efficient operation of the engine, whether the car is running fast or slow. Y

The automatic regulation of the apparatus depends on the fact that, with the road conditions remaining the same and with the motor car well under way, the pull or resistance to motion offered by the back wheels is substantially the same whether the vehicle is moving fast or slow; that is, the pull of the driving wheels in driving the car will be the same, within close limits, whether the vehicle is climbing a hill at a high speed or at a low speed. The engine, however, will expend more power in propelling the car up a given grade through the high speed than it will in propelling it up the-same grade through the low speed. The total work expended on the car is the same in each case, but the time in which the work is done varies.

Since the horse-power delivered by an engine is dependent on the number of revolutions of the flywheel in conjunction with certain other constant factors, it is readily seen that an engine of ten horse-power as a maximum might drive the motor car up a given grade through the low-speed gear, where it would require an engine of probably twice the horse-power to accomplish the same feat through the high-speed gear. simple illustration of this is the simple lever in which a certain load may be raised through a unit length by a small force acting at the end of a long force arm, or the same result may be accomplished and the same work done by applying twice the force at the end of a lever arm half as long. The only difference is that the small force moves through twice the distance that the force of twice the strength must move, or the flywheel of the ten horse-power engine will make twice as many revolutions as the twenty horse-power engine while driving the car up the grade. I

The ordinary gas or gasolene engine does not operate efficiently under varying loads. and it is impossible to efiiciently overload them, since an overload slows down the engine and consequently decreases the power delivered. For this reason, my invention is particularly applicable to motor car work,

, controlled clutch device 19.

speed of the vehicle, or it might be said, by varying the load arm, through which the effort of the engine is delivered to the car, in accordance with the varying resistances encountered.

The arrangement of the mechanism illustrated herewith is such that, if during the operation of the car the load or load resistance becomes too heavy or great for an eilicient operation of the en ine through a high-speed gear, the load will be automatically shifted from the high-speed gear to a lower speed gear of greater torque or purchase 5 thereby renderlng the power received from the engine effective and sufficient for driving the car at the lower speed; or, if the power dcliveredby the engine is in excess of thatrequired by the machine while operating through a low speed gear, the load will be automatically shifted to a higher speed gear of lower torque or purchase, and the car will then be driven at a higher speed: Under these conditions the effort of the engine or motor is rendered practically constant and an etlicientopera- 111011 is insured.

The apparatus comprises an engine 11, which is suitably mounted on the frame portion 12. of a motor car and is provided with a fly-wheel 13, rigidly mounted on a main shaft 14. The shaft 14 is coupled to a shaft 15, which is journaled in a lug 16, formed integrally with casing 17 with which the automatic speed-changing device is provided. The shaft 15 extends into the casing 17 and is adapted to be connectedto a shaft 18 through the operation of a centrifugally The shaft 18 is journaled in standards 21, formed integrally with the casing 17, and is provided with gears 22, 23 and 24, which, respectively' mesh with the gears 25, 26 and 27,

mounted on a shaft 28. The shaft 28 is journaled in the casing 17 and is connected by a torque responsive device 29 to a shaft 31, which is journaled in a lug 32 of the which a ring 43 is rigidly mounted.

casing through which it extends. The shaft 31 is coupled to a shaft 33, which gears with the driving axle 34 of the car, on which the driving wheels 35 are mounted. A reversing gear and clutch device 36 is mounted on the shaft 28 and meshes with a gear 37, which is journaled on a shaft 38, suitably mounted in the casing 17. The gear 37 meshes with and is driven by a gear 39, rigidly mounted on the shaft 15. The automatic operation of the speed-changing device depends upon the operation of the individual parts, which will now be given with a description of the same.

The centrifugal clutch device-A sleeve 41, rigidly mounted on the shaft 15, is provided with a suitable number of radially extending standards 42, on the outer end 0;

suitable number'of annular friction disks 44 are feathered or otherwise connected to the ring 43 in such a manner that, while they rotate with the ring, they are capable ofv slight longitudinal motion along the shaft.

A sleeve 45 is mounted on the shaft 15 by a key-way connection 46 in such a manner that, while it rotates with the shaft, it is capable of longitudinal motion along it, and the longitudinal motion is controlled by a manually operatedlever 47 which is suitably connected to a collar 48, 'rotatably mounted on the sleeve. Annular friction disks 49, interleaving with the disks 44 are feathered on the sleeve 45 in such a manner that they are capable of Ion itudinal motion relative to the sleeve. A disk 51 is rigidly mounted on the sleeve 45, adjacent to the interleaving friction disks 44 and 49.

A spring 52, mounted in a recess 53 in the end of the shaft 18 and operating between a pin 54 carried by the shaft'and a pin 55 carried by the sleeve 45, and extending through slots 56 into the recess 53, is adapted to hold the sleeve 45 against the sleeve 41. Centrifugal weights 57 are pivotally mounted on pins '58, carried by the standards 42, and are provided with inwardly extending arms 59, which are adapted to contact'with lugs 61, suitably arranged on a disk 62, which is feathered to the ring 43, adjacent to the interleaving friction disks 44 and 49 and is, like the interleaving friction disks, capable of slight longitudinal motion relative to the sleeve. The Weights 57 are held against the rin 43 by spiral springs 63, which are suitabd mounted on stud bolts 64 mounted on the ring.

When the lever 47 is in such a position that the sleeve 45 is in contact with the sleeve 41 and the shaft 15 starts to revolve, the weights 57 are gradually moved outwardly, due to the action of the increasing centrifugal force, which is caused by the ac-.

.celerated motion of the shaft 15. As the weights move outwardly against the action of the springs 63, the weight arms 59 contact with the lugs 61 of the disk 62 and force the interleaving disks against the plate 51 which is carried by the sleeve 45. At some predetermined speed of the shaft 15 the centrifugal force is such that the friction between the acent disks 44 and 49 is sufiicient to drive the shaft 18 and take up the load of the car. Since the increase in speed of the shaft 15 is gradual, the centrifugal force will gradually increase and the sl1pping between the interleaving friction disks will gradually decrease until the shaft 18 is finally driven at the speed of the shaft 15.

lVhile the shaft 15 is being driven at full speed and the weights 57 of the centrifugal I clutch are in the extreme operating position,

the grip of the centrifugal clutch may be broken and the shaft 15 disconnected from the shaft 18 by moving the sleeve 45, through the agency of the lever 47, out of contact with the sleeve 41 to what may be called the neutral position. \Vith the sleeve 45 in the neutral position, the interleaving friction disks are relieved of the pressure exerted by the weights 57, since the rigidly mounted plate 51, againstwhich they were forced, is moved into an inoperative position. The

shaft 18 can again be thrown into operation I by moving the sleeve 45 from the neutral position to the operating position-and the centrifugal clutch will at once be rendered effective. The lever47 is pivotally mounted at 65 and is also utilized in controlling the reversing clutch mechanism 36, as will hererigidly mounted on the shaft 28. The in- 'vided with an outwardly extending web terinediate gear train consists of a gear 23, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft and is provided with a clutch device 66, and a gear 26, which consists of a hub portion 67, rigidly mounted on the shaft 28, and a rotatably mounted rim portion 68, between which and the hub portion an overr'unning.

device 69 is provided. The low speed gear consists of a gear 22, rigidly mounted on the shaft 18, and a gear wheel 25 which, like the gear wheel 26, consists of a hub portion 67 and a rotatably mounted rim portion 68, and is provided with an overrunning device 69.

The automatically controlled clutches. The automatically cont-rolled high speed clutch 66, as illustrated in Fig. 4, in connec tion with the gear 24, consists of a sleeve 71, rigidly mounted on the shaft .18 andproportion 72, which is provided with an integrally formed rim portion 73. A suitable number of circular friction disks 74 are keyed to the rim portion 73 in such a manner that, while they rotate with the rim, they are capable of slight longitudinal motion relative to the shaft. A sleeve 75, rigidly secured to the gear 24, is rotatably mounted on, the shaft 18 and is provided with. a number of circular friction disks 76, which interleave with the friction disks 74 and are keyed to the sleeve 75 in such a manner that they are capable of slight longitudinal motion relative to the shaft 18. A spiral spring 77 is mounted between a disk 78, formed integrally with the sleeve 7 5, and an adjacent disk of the interleaving friction disks 76. Two heavy pitch screws 79 are shaft. The rod 83 is operated by a lever 84,

lug 87 of the rod '83, is thrown into operation case,

mounted in the web portion 72 and are provided with opera ing arms8l, the ends of which extend into the hollow shaft 18, through openings 82, and contact with an operating rod 83, which is located within the to which it is connected at 85, and is provided with a suitably located lug 86, which is so arranged that, for certain positions of the rod, it contacts with the arms 81 and operates the high speed clutches 66. The screws 7 9 extend through the web 72 and are provided with a thrust ball 86, which contacts with the adjacent plate of the interleaving set 74. The operation of the-clutch is as follows:

\Vhen the ends of the arms 81 come in contact with the operating lug 86, they are moved outwardly a sufficient amount to turn the screws 79oand cause the thrust ball 86 to be forced against the interleaving plates with a pressure corresponding to the angle through which the screws are turned. Thelongitudinal motion of the screw compresses the interleaving plates between the thrust disks to cause the plates 74, which are mounted on the sleeve 71, to clutch the plates 76, which are mounted on the sleeve 7 5, and thereby drive the gear 24. The intermediate gear 23 is provided with a clutch device 66 similar to the high speed clutch device, which, for a suitably positioned operating and renders the intermediate gear train effective in transmitting power. The spiral spring 77 is utilized to take up any wear that-may result from the rubbing between the interleaving disks.

Tlze'ovcrrunm'ng cZceice.-Since the gears comprising the different speed sets are continuously in mesh, it is necessary to provide each of the low speed sets with overrunning devices which will be effective during the operation of'a set of higher speed. In this the gears 25 and 26 of the low and intermediate sets, respectively, are provided with overrunning devices, which are located, as has been described, between the rigidly mounted hub portion 67 and the rotatably mounted rim portion 68. In Fig. 5 asection of the intermediate speed gear 26 illustrates the overrunningdevice. The hub portion 67 is keyed to the shaft 28 and is provided at its periphery with tapering recesses 88, in which clutch or grip rollers 89'are mounted. Coiled springs 91 are mounted on suitably extending lugs 92 of the hub portion and are adapted to hold the clutch rollers 89 in contact with the inner periphery of the rim portion 68. The arrangement is such that when the rim 68 is driven by the gear 23 in i the shaft 28 is i the direction of the arrow, the rollers 89 will grip the surfaces of the hub and the rimportions and lock the rim to the hub; when the hub portion 67 rotates, relative to. the rim portion, in the direction of the arrow, the clutch rollers will disengage and allow the hub to overrun or move in advance of the rimportion.

The torque responsive de.'vi0e.The end of provided with arecess 93, into which a reduced portion of the shaft 31 extends. A sleeve 94, which at one end is provided with helical surfaces 95 and 96, is mounted on the shaft 28 by feather-way connections 97 in such a manner that, while it rotates with the shaft, it is capable of considerable longitudinal motion relative to it. Asleeve 98 is provided with helical surfaces 99 and 101, which correspond to the surfaces 95 and 96 of the sleeve 94. The sleeve 98 is keyed to the shaft'31 and a roller thrust joint 102 is provided between itand the casing.17. A spiral spring 103 encircles the sleeves 94 and 98 and is mounted on suitable lugs 104 and 105, with which the respective sleeves are provided. The lug 105 is provided with a set screw 106, utilized in adjusting the tension of the spring 103. A sleeve 107, rotatably mounted on the sleeve 94, surrounds the spring 103 and is provided with a suitably mounted pin or trunnion 108, which is attached to the lever 84. The spring 103 is adapted to hold the corresponding helical surfaces of the sleeves 94 and 98 in contact, and is designed to sustain with little or no distortion a pull or resistance to motion of the driving wheels of the car that the engine can efficiently overcome while operating through the high speed gears. Greater pulls or resistances cause the spring to elongate or distort definite amounts proportional to theresistances. lVithin certain predetermined limits of slight distortional resistance (or for slight resistance to motion of the driving wheels) the spring 103 will transmit the effort of the engine to the driving wheels without distortion. F or. greater resistances the spring will elongate definite amounts, thereby permitting the shaft 31, and consequently the sleeve 98, to lag behind the shaft 28 and the sleeve 94 certain definite amounts, which are proportional to the encountered resistance. Under such conditions, the face 101 of the sleeve 98 will rcccdc from the face 96 of the sleeve 94 and the helical face 99 of the sleeve 98 will ride up the helical face of the sleeve 94, thereby causing the sleeve 94 to move longitudinally along the shaft and occupy different positions. The lever 84 is fulcrumed at 111 on the casing 17 and is arranged to actuate the rod 83 in accordance with the reciprocations of the sleeve 94. The lug 86 is so positioned on the rod that the high speed disk clutch is rendered effective when the sleeves 94 and 98 are in their norclutch is rendered ineffective by the longitudinal motion of the sleeve 94.- The overlapping of the clutches is rendered permissible by the overrunning devices 69, with which the intermediate speed gear is provided. F or a further increase of torsional resistances the rod 83 is moved to such a position that the intermediate clutch is also rendered ineffective and the car is then driven through the low speed gears which have all the while been overrunnin -As the road resistance or ull 0% the back wheels decreases, the lag of t e shaft 31 will graduallydecrease and the sleeve 94 will be moved back along the shaft28 by the spring 103 and the intermediate clutch will again be rendered ineffective, and finally, for a greater decrease of road resistance the high speed clutch will be rendered effective. The lugs 86 and 87' are so positioned that the high speed gear will be brought into operation by the decreasing torque or resistance before the intermediate speed clutch is rendered ineffective.

The reversing gears.The reversing clutch mechanism 36 consists of a rim portion 112, rigidly mounted on a hub 113, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 28. A sleeve 114 is keyed on the shaft 28 in such a manner that, while it rotates with the shaft, it is capable of longitudinal motion relative to it. A collar 115, rotatably mounted on the sleeve 114, is suitably connected to the lever 47 by a pin 116. A series of friction disks 11'7, feathered on the sleeve 114, interleave with frietion disks 118, feathered on the inner periphery of the rim 112, and a plate 119 is rigidly mounted on the sleeve 114. The arrangement is such that, when the lever 47 is thrown to the reversing position, the centrifugal clutch 19 is first rendered ineffective, and then the sleeve 114, in moving to the left, compresses the friction disks 117 and 118, thereby clutching the rotatably mounted rim portion 112 and driving the shaft 28 through the gears 39 and 37 and the clutch mechanism 36. In relieving the reversing clutch of the load of the car the lever 47 is thrown to the neutral position, in which the drivin mechanism of the car is rendered independent of the engine. By this arrangement the reversing lever can be operated with impunity, since the gears are always in mesh, and there is little danger of stripping the teeth, and since the power is transmitted to the driving wheels through two friction disk clutches, the inertia of thecar while being overcome by' the engine will produce slipping between the disk clutches, which will therefore act as a brake.

lit)

Thev entire speed-changing mechanism, including the clutches, the reversing gears, and the torque responsive device, is inclosed within the casing 17, which is adapted to be filled with oil or other suitable lubricant.

The operation of the organized device is as follows: The engine in starting runs free of the driving mechanism of the car; after it. has attained a predetermined speed the centrifugal clutch 11 is gradually rendered ett'ective and the car starts to move slowly forward. As soon as the centrifugal clutch is rendered ellective the engine encounters the greatest resistance the existing conditions can produce; that is, the friction of rest of the car and the ,lriving mechanism in addition to the existing road resistance. The spring 102? is immediately thrown into tension and the shaft 18 lags a definite amount, corresponding to the encountered resistance. and the sleeve 9%, in moving along the shaft 28, renders effective, through the agency of the lever St and the rod 83, the Htl of speed gears arranged to operate under the encountered resistance. During the operation of the car the variations of torsional resistance encountered automati('al| control the operation of the clutches or so that at all times the engine runs under prm tically the same load and therefore no \ai'iutions of engine speed will be encountercd. 'lhe lugs 86 and 87 are so arranged that the clutches 6 will be gradually relieved of their load, so that there will never be an abrupt change of speed. 'Ihroughout the entire automatic operation of the car the load on the engine is kept constant, within close limits, by varying the speed of the car in m-col'tlance with the varying resistances em-ountcrcd. or. more properly, by varying the torque tturning-moment) or purchase ol the transmission mechanism through which the etl'ort ot' the engine is delivered to the driving wheels of the car, in accordance with the varying road resistances encountered.

\Vhen the engine encounters resistances that it cannot overcome while operating through the low speed gear, it will not be stalled or stopped, since after it has slowed down a predetermined amount the centrifugal clutch 19 will be rendered ineffective and the engine will be practically relieved of the load ol' the car. (The tension of the spring 10 can be so adjusted by the set screw ltlt': that the time of operation of the speed gears can be controlled.) Since the torsional resistance encountered by the driving mechanism is substantially independent ot the speed, the torsional controlling device w ill be etl'cctive whether the engine is running fast or slow, and it means are utilized tor manually operating the centrifugal clutch, the engine may be throttled down and run at any desired speed.

As before stated, this invention is not limited to use in motor vehicles; the principle of the same is particularly applicable to cranes or other lifting or hoisting devices, and it will be understood that the claims, where not specifically limited to motor vehicles, are to be considered broad enough to be read into any power transmission mechanism. 7

It is obvious that many variations and changes in the details of construction will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art, and still fall within the scope and spirit of this invention, and that many of the features shown and described may be omitted or used either alone or in association with others not shown or described. The invention, therefore, is not limited or restricted to the exact details of construction or arrangement shown and above set forth; but

Having set forth the object of this invention and a form of construction embodying the principle thereof, and having described such construction, the function and mo'deof operation, What is claimed as new and useful and sought to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a power transmitting apparatus, a plurality of independently opei'raliile clutch devices, means by which said devices are caused to transmit power and torque con trolled mechanism upon which the operation of said means is dependent.

.2. In a power transmitting apparatus, a plurality of independently operable clutch and gearing devices, means by which said devices are caused to separately transmit power and torque responsive mechanism for controlling the operation of said means. 105

3. In a power transmitting apparatus, a plurality of independently operable clutch amt gearing devices and torque responsive mechanism for operating said devices.

I. In a power transmitting apparatus, in

combination with a power shaft, :1 member rotatable with said shaft and adapted to lag in relation thereto, a plurality of independently operable clutch devices and means whereby the operation of said clutch devices is dependent upon the degree of such la In a power transmit-ting apparatus adapted for use in automobiles, the combination with a plurality of indepeiulently operable clutch devices of power transmitting gear trains and torque responsive means dependent upon the load or load resistance tor controlling the operation of said clutch devices.

(3. In a power transmitting apparatus, a power shaft, a driven shaft, a plurality of independent power transmitting clutch and gearil'ig devices between said shafts and, mechanism dependent upon the load and independent ot the speed of the power shaft 130 for controlling the operation of said del the combination of a driving part and a part vices.

7. In a power transmitting apparatus, a )ower shaft, a driven shaft, a plurality of lndepcndent power trausmitting devices between said shafts and a mechanism dependent upon the load and independent of the speed of the powershaft for automatically operating one or the other of said devices.

-8. In a power transmitting-device, a

.power shaft, a driven shaft, a plurality of independent power transnntt-ing devices between said shafts all but one of which are normally inoperative and a torque responsive mechanism for rendering one or another of said devices effective in transn'iitting power.

of independently operable speed-change devlces, an elastic driving coupling between saidspeed-change devices and the part to be driven, which permits of relative angular lag between said parts, the degree of which is dependent upon the load encountered, and means, the operation of which is dependent upon the degree of such lag for automatically controlling the operation of said speed-change devices.

11. The combination with adriving part, of a part to be driven, a plurality of inde- 'pendently operable turning-moment varying devices, an elastic driving coupling between the turning moment varying devices and the part to be driven, which permits of relative angular lag between said parts, the degree of which is dependent upon the load encountered, and means,'the operation of which is de )endent n )Qll the de ree of said ing for controlling the operation of the said turning moment varying devices.

12. The combination with a driving part, of a part to be driven, a plurality of independently operable turning-moment varying devices, a spring driving connection between said devices and the part to be driven, which permits of relative angular lag between said parts, and means, the operation of which is dependentupon the degree of said lag for automatically controlling the operation of said devices.

1 In combination with a driving part, a driven part, a plurality of inde 'iendently operable turningmoment varying devices, 5 means between the driven part and said devices whereby relative angular lag between said parts is permitted and mechanism, the operation of which is dependent upon the degree of such lag for operating said devices.

ll. In a power transmission apparatus,

to be driven, a plurality of independently operable turning-moment varying devices between the driving part and the part to be driven, an extensible driving connection between said device and the part to be driven whereby said part may lag and means, the operation of which is dependent upon the degree of said lag for controlling the operation of said devices.

15. In combination with a motor driven shaft, apart to be driven therefrom, a plu rality of independently operable clutch and gearing devices, a torque responsive agent between said devices and said part to be driven for controlling the operation of said clutch and gearing devices and a centrifugally controlled clutch device for automatically connecting said motor driven shaft to said clutch and gearing devices when said motor driven shaft attains a predetermined speed of rotation.

16. In combination with a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a plurality of independently operable clutch and gearing devices and a torque responsiv agent between. said devices and the driven shaft for controlling the operation of said clutch and gearing devices and means for automatically rendering said devices eii'ective when the driving shaft attains a n'edetermined speed of rotation.

17. In combination with a motor drivenof a driven shaft, a plurality of clutch and gearing devices between said shafts, an automatic centrifugally controlled clutch device for connecting said driving shaft with said clutch and gearing devices when said shaft attains a predetermined speed of revolution, normally inoperative reversing gearing between said shafts and manually operated means whereby said automatic clutch device is rendered ineffective when said reversing gearing is rendered operative, and vice versa.

.19. In a power transmission mechanism, in combination with a driving part and a part. to be driven therefrom, a plurality of power transmitting devices and an agent between said devices and the part. to be driven, for automatically controlling the operation of said devil-es, said agent comprising a driving part, a driven part and a yielding connection between said parts whereby relative angular lag between said parts is permitted; the mechanism being so arranged that the turning moment employed is dependent upon the degree of such lag.

20. In a power transmitting mechanism, a driving shaft and a driven shaft, a plurality of clutch and gear devices between'said dr'iv ing and said driven shafts, a torque responsive agent for controlling said clutch and gear devices, and a centrifugally controlled clutch device for rendering said clutch and geardevices effective as power transmitting agents.

21. In a power transmitting mechanism, in combination with the driving and a driven part, a speed change device comprising a plurality of clutch and gear devices, an elastic coupling between said speed change device and the driven part, which permits of relative angular lag between said parts, the degree of which is dependent on the load encountered, means, the operation of which is dependent upon the degree of such lag for automatically controlling the operation of the speed change device, a motor driven shaft, and a manually dlSCOllllQCl'lblQ automatic clutch device for connecting the motor driven shaft with the driving part when said motor driven shaft attains a predetermined speed of revolution.

21%. In a power transmitting apparatus, a plurality of independently operable clutch devices, and torque responsive means for throwing one or another of said devices into operation.

In a power transmitting apparatus, in combination with a power shaft, a rotatable member driven by said shaft, a plurality of independently operable clutch devices between said member and said shaft, a flexible coupling which permits said member to lag behind said shaft in t ansmitting power, and means. rendered operable by said lag, for throwing into operation one or another of said clutch devices.

24. In a power transmitting device for antomobiles, a power shaft, a. driven shaft, a plurality of independent power transmitting devices between said shafts, all but one of which are normally inoperative at one time, and a torque responsive mechanism for throwing into or out of operation one or another of said devices and thereby varying the effective turning moment of the power shaft directly in"accorda.nce with the vary ing load encountered by said driven shaft.

25. In combination with a power shaft, a driven shaft. a speed change device between said power shaft and said driven shaft, comprising a plurality of sets of transmission gears and independently operable cooperating clutch devices. a flexible connection between said power shaft and said driven shaft whereby said driven shaft. is permitted to lag in transmitting power, and means, rendered operable by said lag, for throwing into operation, through the agency of one of said clutch devices, one or another of said gear sets, whereby the effective turning moment of said power shaft is varied directly and substantially in the same proportion as the variations of load on said driven shaft.

26. In a power transmitting mechanism, a driving member, a driven member, a plurality of power transmitting devices between said driving and said driven member, all but one ofwhich are normally inoperative at a time, and a torque responsive mechanism between said devices and said driven member for throwing into and ut of operation one or another of said devices and thereby varying the effective turning moment of the driv mg member directly in accordance with the varying load encountered by said driven member.

27. In combination with a driving and adriven part, a set of speed change gears between said parts, means for rendering said gears effective or ineffective as power transmitting agents and a load responsive device between said gears and said driven parts for controlling the operation of said means.

28. In combination with a driving and driven part, a set of speed change gears between said parts, a clutch mechanism for controllingthe operation of said gears and a load responsive device between said gears and said driven part, for controlling the operation of said clutch mechanism.

29. In combination with a driving and a driven part, a set of speed change gears between said parts, a clutch mechanism for controlling the o eration of said gears, a load responsive and said driven part for controlling the operation of said clutch mechanism and an overrunning device for one of the gears of said set.

30. In combination With a driving and a driven'part, a plurality of sets of speed change gears between said parts, means for controlling the operation of said gears and a load responsive device between said gears and said driven part for controlling the operation of said means.

' 31. In combination with a driving and a driven part, a plurality of sets of speed change gears between said parts, clutch mechanisms for controlling the operation ofsaid gears and a load responsive device between said gears and said driven part for controlling the operation of said clutch mechanism.

32. In combination with a driving and a driven part, a plurality of sets of speed change gears between said parts. clutch mechanisms for controlling the operation of said gears, a load responsive device between' said gears and said dr'm-n part for controlevice between said gears in controlling change gears.

t lin the operation of said clutch mechanisms an an overrunning device for at least one of said sets of gears.

33. In combination with a driving and a driven part, a speed change device between said parts, a yielding coupling between said 5 speed change device and said driven part whereby said part is caused to lag behind said driving part and means for rendering the relative motion between said parts effective in controlling the operation of said speed change device.

ZAIsIn combination with a driving and a driven part, a plurality of sets of speed change gears between said parts, clutch mechanisms for controlling the operation of said gears, 21 yielding coupling between said gears and said driven .part whereby said driven part is caused to lag behind said driving partand means for rendering the relative motion between said parts effective the operation of said speed 35. In combination with a driving and a driven part, a set of speed change gears between said parts, means located between said gears and said driven part for causing relative angular lag between said parts and means controlled by the relative motion between said parts for rendering said gears effective or ineffective as power transmitting agents.

I 36. In combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft, a plurality of clutch and gearing devices, a torque responsive agent between said clutch and gearing devices and said driven shaft and means for automatically rendering said clutch and gearing devices effective when the driving shaft attains a determined speed of rotation.

. 37. In combination with a driving and a driven part, a speed change device c0n1prising a plurality of sets of gear trains and a torque responsive device between said driven part and said speed change device for automatically controlling the operation of said speed change device.

3b. In a speed change mechanism, a set of ahead gears and a set of reversing gears. a clutch mechanism for controlling the mechanism of said ahead gears, automatic means controlling the operation of said clutch mechanism and means for rendering said antomatic means ineffective and for rendering said reversing gears effective in transmitting power.

39. In combination with a driving and a driven part, a set of reversing gears, a set of ahead gears, and a manually disconnectible automatic clutch device for controlling the operation of said ahead gears.

4-0. The combination with a driving part, of a part to be driven therefrom, a plurality of sets of gears, a clutch device for rendering one or more of said sets of gears effective, a torque responsive device between said clutch device and the part to be driyen and an overrunning device in at least one of said sets of gears which permits the operation of said sets of gears to overlap.

41. In a speed change mechanism, a set of ahead gears, a set of reversing gears, a clutch device for controlling the operation of said ahead gears, a clutch device forcontrolling the operation of said reverse gears, automatic. means for rendering the clutch device of said set of ahead gears effective and man ually operated means for rendering the automatic means ineffective and said reversing clutch effective.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this tenth day of N o vember, 1905.

EMIL E. KELLER. 

